Even in a strong year for the Republican Party, challenges abound for those on the right wing of the GOP. Some of these are the sort of challenges faced by anyone who runs for office, no matter which party they belong to, and no matter where they fall on the political spectrum. Some, however, are particular to conservative candidates Illinois 2014.
Politics challenges anyone who feels the desire to run for office. There is always a petition process, requiring people to gather a certain number of names. Then there is fundraising, since running for office is expensive whether running a national or a local campaign. There are any number of campaigns that do not succeed because they are underfunded.
On the Right, raising funds is generally a by-product of strong support among conservatives at the outset. Voters on the Right are highly suspicious of candidates who are phony conservatives, those who might support the Second Amendment or lean budgets, but who are liberal in other ways. The challenge in steering wide of that status is that the Right is split into warring factions, and wars within ideologies are typically more bitter than those between factions.
The oldest, but smallest group is the paleo-conservative or "paleocon" faction. This group, whose most prominent spokesman is Patrick Buchanan, places great emphasis on defending the traditional, "organic" lifestyle of the white, Christian majority that founded the United States against what it sees as progressive predation. This is not only a small movement, it is a movement in which fringe ideas about race gain free expression to a degree that can damage any potential candidate.
Racist views, whether in the candidate or those associated in any way with the campaign, are political suicide for good reason, making "paleocons" generally unelectable. The Tea Party, to give a prominent example, was highly successful during the 2010 elections as its candidates ran on Libertarian values, but it has faltered since drifting more toward a social conservative focus.
The Religious Right is demographically numerous and highly motivated, and it can be good to have their support in parts of Illinois, though identification with it can be disastrous in the Chicago suburbs. This faction's attention is fixed of "lifestyle issues" such as gay marriage and abortion. These people generally support the mainstream Republican Party on foreign affairs, and they are particularly supportive of Israel.
Libertarians have their own party but generally vote with Republicans in general elections. They focus on small government, free markets, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. More than any of the other groups, they believe in government non-interference in personal and business decisions, a posture that puts them at odds with the Religious Right in particular.
Mainstream "movement conservatives" are the backbone of the Republican Party, reflecting the ideology that came to power with the Goldwater nomination in 1964. They are the faction of Ronald Reagan and both George Bushes, as well as Fox News, the National Review, and most of Right talk radio. They inherited the anti-communist mantle and remain committed to American superpower status, including an unmatched military and global free markets.
The mainstream's emphasis on defending freedom worldwide is attacked by paleoconservatives and Libertarians alike. Any Right wing campaigner had better learn to balance all factions. When it comes time to raise funds, however, the conservative mainstream is where the money is to be found.
Politics challenges anyone who feels the desire to run for office. There is always a petition process, requiring people to gather a certain number of names. Then there is fundraising, since running for office is expensive whether running a national or a local campaign. There are any number of campaigns that do not succeed because they are underfunded.
On the Right, raising funds is generally a by-product of strong support among conservatives at the outset. Voters on the Right are highly suspicious of candidates who are phony conservatives, those who might support the Second Amendment or lean budgets, but who are liberal in other ways. The challenge in steering wide of that status is that the Right is split into warring factions, and wars within ideologies are typically more bitter than those between factions.
The oldest, but smallest group is the paleo-conservative or "paleocon" faction. This group, whose most prominent spokesman is Patrick Buchanan, places great emphasis on defending the traditional, "organic" lifestyle of the white, Christian majority that founded the United States against what it sees as progressive predation. This is not only a small movement, it is a movement in which fringe ideas about race gain free expression to a degree that can damage any potential candidate.
Racist views, whether in the candidate or those associated in any way with the campaign, are political suicide for good reason, making "paleocons" generally unelectable. The Tea Party, to give a prominent example, was highly successful during the 2010 elections as its candidates ran on Libertarian values, but it has faltered since drifting more toward a social conservative focus.
The Religious Right is demographically numerous and highly motivated, and it can be good to have their support in parts of Illinois, though identification with it can be disastrous in the Chicago suburbs. This faction's attention is fixed of "lifestyle issues" such as gay marriage and abortion. These people generally support the mainstream Republican Party on foreign affairs, and they are particularly supportive of Israel.
Libertarians have their own party but generally vote with Republicans in general elections. They focus on small government, free markets, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. More than any of the other groups, they believe in government non-interference in personal and business decisions, a posture that puts them at odds with the Religious Right in particular.
Mainstream "movement conservatives" are the backbone of the Republican Party, reflecting the ideology that came to power with the Goldwater nomination in 1964. They are the faction of Ronald Reagan and both George Bushes, as well as Fox News, the National Review, and most of Right talk radio. They inherited the anti-communist mantle and remain committed to American superpower status, including an unmatched military and global free markets.
The mainstream's emphasis on defending freedom worldwide is attacked by paleoconservatives and Libertarians alike. Any Right wing campaigner had better learn to balance all factions. When it comes time to raise funds, however, the conservative mainstream is where the money is to be found.
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